Pistorius was inspiring, running on carbon-fiber blades in both the Paralympic and Olympic Games. He was the perfect underdog. Also, I was struck by what I interpreted as humility in his interviews with the press.

Why does it seem like so many elite athletes are deeply troubled?

Why do we try so hard and want to believe they aren’t?

After reading as many articles as I could about the scant facts of Pistorius case, what stands out to me the most are the remarks of his father, Henke.

It is the phrase “too much respect for Oscar” that gets me. What dignity. What unconditional love. No matter how sad I am, it certainly can’t compare to that of his father.

Henke’s remark reminds me that no matter how much we want to collectively share in someone’s success, there is often something much more powerful and admirable in the people that know us best – the people who know who we are even when we come in last.

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About Andrea Hickerson

Andrea Hickerson: is an Assistant Professor of Journalism in the Department of Communication at RIT. She lives in Pittsford with her husband and two young sons. Andrea has never won a race and probably never will, but she loves to run, especially on trails. She has run four marathons and recently began racing ultras.